Bass Hall of Famer Guy Eaker Sr. to share stories at GWU Thursday

Published: Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 11:28 PM.

Guy Eaker Sr. has experienced plenty of unforgettable moments during his long and accomplished fishing career.

But some of the most enduring memories came when he fished with United States presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

He’ll tell stories like those and give pointers on the sport to the Gardner-Webb University Fishing Club on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. in Stewart Hall at the new Tucker Student Center on the GWU campus.

Eaker Sr., a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame, still vividly remembers fishing with the elder Bush, who got a hook stuck in his index finger when a fish jumped out of the water.

The two were fishing in Alabama, and Eaker knew he wouldn’t get to finish his day of fishing with the president if he went to the hospital. So Eaker offered to remove the hook and successfully pulled it out. George H.W. Bush said “a few choice words,” then asked Eaker, “How did you do that?”

It was a talent honed by his vast experience on the water.

Another highlight was when George W. Bush broke a couple of his rods and wanted to pay for them. Eaker wouldn’t let him and made a different request of the former Texas Rangers owner: a Nolan Ryan autographed baseball.

Guy Eaker Sr. has experienced plenty of unforgettable moments during his long and accomplished fishing career.

But some of the most enduring memories came when he fished with United States presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

He’ll tell stories like those and give pointers on the sport to the Gardner-Webb University Fishing Club on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. in Stewart Hall at the new Tucker Student Center on the GWU campus.

Eaker Sr., a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame, still vividly remembers fishing with the elder Bush, who got a hook stuck in his index finger when a fish jumped out of the water.

The two were fishing in Alabama, and Eaker knew he wouldn’t get to finish his day of fishing with the president if he went to the hospital. So Eaker offered to remove the hook and successfully pulled it out. George H.W. Bush said “a few choice words,” then asked Eaker, “How did you do that?”

It was a talent honed by his vast experience on the water.

Another highlight was when George W. Bush broke a couple of his rods and wanted to pay for them. Eaker wouldn’t let him and made a different request of the former Texas Rangers owner: a Nolan Ryan autographed baseball.

“The ball was at my house in three days,” Eaker said.

Eaker, who will turn 73 in November, is still fishing in tournaments. That longevity draws occasional good-natured ribbing.

“One of my sponsors said, ‘When are you going to retire?’ I said, ‘Retire and do what? Fish?’” Eaker said. “This is what I do.”

Eaker is looking forward to sharing his experience at Gardner-Webb.

“The good Lord’s been good to me. I’ve been doing this for 38 years and made a lot of money,” Eaker said. “And I’m just trying to pay my dues back.”

FLW Tour anglers and Shelby residents Bryan Thrift and Matt Arey have also spoken at previous Fishing Club events.

And Jeremy Fern, the GWU Fishing Club’s staff adviser, is excited about Eaker being on campus.

“I can tell that he’s willing to invest in the future of the sport by talking to our college students and the community,” Fern said.